NSU Sharks News

NSU Softball Trounces North Alabama

athletic pic

Bergner and Hernandez drive in two each to pace the Sharks

Pensacola, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2009) The Nova Southeastern University softball team fought scattered rain showers throughout Friday evening to get in just the front in of a doubleheader against the North Alabama Lions (0-1) at the UWF Softball Complex. Before pulling the tarp, the Sharks (8-1) picked up an 11-2 win in five innings to start the UWF Regional Crossover.

Lexi Sarradet (So., Miami, Fla.) received ample run support and tossed two perfect innings of shutout ball, including three consecutive strikeouts in the second to strike out the side until North Alabama's Maggie Eads broke up the no-hitter with a lead-off double in the third. She finished the game allowing just four hits and two runs, while securing five strikeouts to pick up her fifth win of the season. Megan Niesel (0-1) got the starting nod for the Lions giving up eight runs, five earned in 1.2 innings in the loss. Jennifer Sexton came in for the final 2.1 innings allowing three runs.

Nova Southeastern started the game scoring early and often. Dana Bergner (Jr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) and Jessica Hernandez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) belted a pair of RBI doubles in the first to give the Sharks a 4-0 lead heading into the second.

In the second inning, Lauren Lopez (Jr., Miami, Fla.) dribbled a single up the middle to plate the Sharks' fifth run with two outs. A dropped fly ball by UNA right fielder Krystal Elliot allowed two more Shark runs to score and Jessica Rockwell singled in another run to give NSU an 8-0 lead after two.

A pair of leadoff walks to Patty Rivero (Jr., Miami, Fla.) and Noemi Luciani (Sr., Miami, Fla.) led to three more Shark runs in the third.

North Alabama picked up their second hit of the game in the fourth, but two hits and an RBI double by UNA's Sarah Whitlow narrowed the NSU lead to 11-2. With two outs and a runner at second, a UNA single by Jennifer Sharp threatened to extend the game, but Shark center fielder Rachel Talenfeld (So., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) rifled the throw to the Rockwell at the plate to tag Whitlow on a head first slide for the third out to win the game.

The second game was called due to inclement weather, but Saturday's tournament schedule is expected to stay the same with the Sharks facing West Georgia in a doubleheader at noon possibly followed by a single game against Alabama-Huntsville.